Daniel Ablitt

Bristol-based Daniel Ablitt studied Fine Art at Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh and Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education and has been practising full-time as an artist since 2002.

Inspired by recollections of his childhood and travels, Daniel’s paintings depict part-remembered, part-imagined places and narratives in subtly melancholic and intimate scenes. Seeking to engage with the profound effects that certain locations have on us, from nostalgia and comfort to awe and mystery, he draws the viewer into familiar yet dreamlike worlds always presented in a lake, forest or mountain setting. Reassuring glowing lights juxtaposed with a dark, brooding atmosphere bring a sense of tension to many of his scenes.

Daniel’s works often feature a very small human figure or two to emphasise the scale of their surroundings and prompt the viewer to reflect on their place in the world. “The placing of a solitary figure or a mysterious group in the landscape provides a focal point and adds a narrative aspect to the work,” he says. “These pieces often have a magical, fairytale quality and can leave the viewer with more questions than answers.” The figures also offer a glimpse of an intimate moment and invite us into a world of new, imagined possibilities.

Daniel’s work has been exhibited extensively at gallery shows and art fairs in the UK and abroad.